Abstract: Objective 　To study the clinical operative treatment of cutaneous malignant melanoma on foot . Methods 　Since 1998 to 2004, 31 patient s with melanoma on foot were treated in our department by comprehensive treatment, individual operation, and first stage radical groin dissection . Their clinical materials and follow up results were ret rospectively analyzed. Results 　22 patients were survived. The appearance and function of foot recovered well, the recurrence didn't appear in operative sites. The 5-year overall survival rates of 31 patient s were 70 %(22/ 31) . T < 1. 5mm, 1. 5mm < T < 2. 5mm, 2. 5mm < T < 4. 0mm, T > 4. 0mm were 66. 7 %, 63. 64 %, 30 %, 0 % respectively. Among them, nine patient s died f rom systemic metastasis, regional groin lymph node metastasis appeared in nine patients, the other patients survived. Factors that might be related to survival, including tumor size, excising depth and range, were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank method. Conclusion 　Patient s with melanoma on foot had high distant metastasis rate. Distant metastasis is an important factor that affects the survival rate. It might be a key to reach satisfactory curative effect to thoroughly individual excise melanoma on foot in a certain range and depth.