Former Qwest chief executive Joe Nacchio probably won’t have to report to prison on Monday as previously scheduled, and the “suspicious growth” on his leg is not cancerous, according to disclosures today in Denver federal court.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Krieger tentatively granted Nacchio’s request to delay the date he must begin serving a six-year prison term for illegal insider trading, stating today that the mandate is “stayed pending further order of this court.”

Krieger said she wanted time to rule on Nacchio’s request to remain free on bail while his attorneys seek a Supreme Court review of the conviction. The postponement of the surrender date is contingent on Nacchio filing the Supreme Court petition Friday.

Krieger rejected a similar bail motion last week, stating that it was premature because Nacchio had yet to file the Supreme Court petition.

It’s possible that Krieger could deny the bail request Friday and order Nacchio to report to prison on Monday as scheduled, though she didn’t say when she would issue a ruling.

Earlier in the hearing, it was disclosed that a biopsy on a mass on Nacchio’s leg was negative.

“The growth on his leg is benign,” said Nacchio’s attorney Everett Johnson.

Nacchio had sought to delay the surrender date to receive medical treatment for the growth. Krieger denied that request and said the federal prison system is equipped to treat his condition.

Nacchio was not at the hearing. Court filings connected to his medical condition suggest he is spending time in Florida.

A federal jury convicted Nacchio on 19 counts of insider trading in 2007. He was accused of selling millions in Qwest stock in early 2001 based on private warnings that the company’s financial condition was deteriorating.

Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com