Table 3. Multivariate analysis of clinicopathological characteristics at primary melanoma diagnosis associated with brain metastasis-free survival.

Cox proportional hazards analysis assuming the absence (A) and presence (B) of competing risks.

Variable	Cox PH Analysis				Cox PH Analysis Under Competing Risk
	MCG		IMCG		MCG		IMCG
	HR(95% CI)	P	HR(95% CI)	P	HR	P	HR	P
Primary tumor thickness (mm)a	2.22(1.61–3.08)	<.0001	1.40(1.11–1.76)	0.004	1.97(1.47–2.65)	<.0001	1.31(1.05–1.63)	0.018
Primary tumor ulceration status
Present vs. absent	2.12(1.30–3.44)	0.002	2.92(1.89–4.50)	<.0001	1.93(1.16–3.21)	0.01	3.14(2.02–4.89)	<.0001
AJCC stage at pathological diagnosis
III/IV vs. I/II	2.62(1.57–4.35)	0.0002	2.70(1.73–4.21)	<.0001	2.08(1.21–3.58)	0.008	2.56(1.57–4.19)	0.0002
Primary tumor anatomic site
Head/neck vs. others	1.23(0.68–2.23)	0.50	3.12(2.03–4.80)	<.0001	1.19(0.65–2.16)	0.58	2.88(1.82–4.56)	<.0001