Hello.. I have a brother who will be 66 on March the 22nd. He has a 'round' knot' on back- left side of his head-skull in the hair line. . The knot is about the size of a quarter and it is extremely painful almost all the time. He takes pain pills for it when he goes to bed. I am worried about it because he has mentioned that he has had matter to come out of his ear and ears. To me that is unusual.. I am worried that it may be mastoid related problems plus he does not hear well. I have tried to get him to go to ER or his doctor but he puts it off because of a scheduled cataract surgery on his left eye next week. I think it is on the 21st. Please advise as to what it could be. I did not feel it to see if it was hard. It doesn't appear to be draining. Thank you, Helen Boyce of Henderson, Texas. ( I don't know how to upload reports or images as I am not an familiar w/computer).