Autofluorescence and deep learning in early disease detection: biological foundations, clinical applications, and future directions

Autofluorescence (AF) imaging enables label-free visualization of tissue metabolism and microenvironmental alterations, while deep learning (DL) provides powerful tools to decode its complex optical signatures. Their integration has emerged as a promising framework for functional and biologically informed disease assessment. Recent studies demonstrate that AF-DL approaches improve lesion detection, intraoperative guidance, and early therapeutic response evaluation across multiple organ systems.