These data suggest three diagnostic applications of CDH16 immunohistochemistry including a) diagnosing papillary thyroid cancer, b) the distinction of renal cell carcinomas from other tumors in case of metastases with unknown primary tumor or in renal masses where a urothelial carcinoma or a metastatic tumor remain diagnostic options, and c) the diagnosis of nephrogenic adenomas. This evidence concerns the gene CDH16 and hereditary clear cell renal cell carcinoma.