Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg had one of his kidneys removed after doctors found an "irregularity" on the organ.

Mr Spielberg, 52, was operated on at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles following a "routine physical examination", said the filmmaker's spokesman, Marvin Levy.

Mr Levy would not answer questions about whether the irregularity was cancerous.

But he said: "The prognosis is for a complete recovery. And no further treatment is necessary. I think that says a lot."

Mr Levy declined to say when the surgery took place, how long Mr Spielberg was in the hospital or when he was discharged. He did not know which kidney was removed.

"He's doing fine, I talked to him this morning," Mr Levy said.

"He's returning to work now - he's looking at projects and scripts already."

Mr Spielberg is due to be presented with a lifetime achievement award on 11 March from the Directors Guild of America.

Mr Spielberg, a presenter at the Golden Globe Awards on 23 January, is a two-time winner of the Academy Award for best director - for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan