Objective To investigate the guiding significance of medical image three-dimensional visualization system (MI-3DVS) in precise hepatectomy. Methods The clinical data of 45 patients with hepatic neoplasms who were admitted to the Zhujiang Hospital from June 2008 to September 2010 were prospectively analyzed. The preoperative image data of the liver were three-dimensionally reconstructed by MI-3DVS. According to the distribution of the intrahepatic portal veins and hepatic veins, the liver was divided into different sections,and then tumors can be located within these hepatic segments. The volume percentage of residual liver and volume of liver resected were detected. Evaluation of surgical resectability and surgery simulation were done before operation. Results According to the distribution of the intrahepatic portal veins and hepatic veins, all patients were divided into seven types: 21 patients were with normal type which was the same as Couinaud type, six with nondivided type, 11 with non-divided right liver type, four with non-divided left liver type, one with right hepatic vein type, one with double middle hepatic vein type and one with right posterior vein type. Thirty-nine patients received open hepatectomy, and the volume percentage of the residual liver was 74% ± 17%. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed that all the 39 patients were with hepatocellular carcinoma. Six patients received transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. No severe complications such as acute hepatic failure, bleeding, bile leakage were detected. All patients were followed up for six months, and they survived with or without tumor. Conclusion MI-3DVS has guiding significance in preoperative assessment and perioperative guidance for precise hepatectomy.