A system and method for data compression and visualization includes a system having a compression unit for compressing an input image of voxels in accordance with a weighted visualization importance, and a visualization unit in signal communication with the compression unit for visualizing the voxels in an order corresponding to the weighted visualization importance; and a corresponding method for defining a weighting function responsive to a visualization importance parameter for voxels, deriving an order of transmission for the voxels in correspondence with the weighting function, compressing the voxels with a look-up table indicative of the order of transmission, transmitting the compressed voxels in order of decreasing weighted visualization importance, and where the method is optionally for receiving the compressed voxels in order of decreasing weighted visualization importance, decompressing the voxels with the look-up table indicative of the order of transmission, and visualizing a voxel in the order in which it was received.