AIM: To study the clinical and therapeutic aspects of cutaneous melanoma at the Joliot Curie Institute of Dakar. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective, descriptive and critical study at the Joliot Curie Institute of Dakar including all histologically confirmed melanoma cases between January 2008 and December 2013. RESULTS: During the study period, 21 cases were managed. The location was plantar in 76% of cases. Acral type was found in 85.7% of cases. All patients had a Clark level of IV or higher with a Breslow index of more than two mm. Fourteen patients underwent excision surgery and 12 had inguinal lymph node dissection. The average follow-up was 16 months with an overall survival of 58.7% at six months and 51% at one year. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients have benefited from surgical treatment, without prescription of immunotherapy which to date has revolutionized the management of advanced melanoma.