Whence lepidic?: the history of a Canadian neologism.

The term lepidic is used prominently in the recently published multidisciplinary classification of adenocarcinoma. The lack of use in common (nonmedical) English has led to some confusion over the proper definition of this term. This historical perspective traces the history of the term lepidic from its origins at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, through its uses in English pathologic descriptions, to its current state in pulmonary pathology.