ObjectiveTo study the advance of malignant anorectal melanoma. MethodsThe literature in recent years about risk factors,clinical characteristic,early diagnosis,treatment and the prognosis of the anorectal melanoma were reviewed.ResultsMalignant anorectal melanoma was very rare.The history of pigment naevus,human immunodeficiency virus infection and sunlight exposure might be the risk factors.Clinic characteristics were rectal bleeding,anorectal mass and changing in bowel habits.Early diagnosis mainly depended on performing routine examination on patients between the ages of 45-80 years.The staining for polycolnal CEA in anorectal melanoma has a role on diagnostic pathology.The treatment is controversial and the combined treatments of chemotherapy with radiation therapy and immunotherapy which were based on surgery (abdominoperineal resection or wide local excision) are introduced.Conclusion Early diagnosis of malignant anorectal melanoma is difficult and the prognosis is poor.It is necessary to pay more attention to this disease and the most successful therapeutic approaches need to be developed.