SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating in population worldwide for the past year and a half, and thus a vast amount of scientific literature has been produced in order to study the biology of the virus and the pathophysiology of COVID-19, as well as to determine the best way to prevent infection, treat the patients and eliminate the virus. SARS-CoV-2 binding to the ACE2 receptor is the key initiator of COVID-19. The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect various types of cells requires special attention to be given to the cardiovascular system, as it is commonly affected. Thorough diagnostics and patient monitoring are beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and to ensure the most favorable outcomes for the infected patients, even after they are cured of the acute disease. The multidisciplinary nature of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic requires careful consideration from the attending clinicians, in order to provide fast and reliable treatment to their patients in accordance with evidence-based medicine principles. In this narrative review, we reviewed the available literature on cardiovascular implications of COVID-19; both the acute and the chronic.

Background: A 31-year-old man was referred from an outside institution to the department of urology under the suspicion of a testicular tumor, with left-sided testicular pain lasting a couple of months in duration. Physical examination showed a hard, thickened and small left testis on palpation with diffuse, inhomogeneous ultrasonographic appearance. After urologic examination a left-sided inguinal orchiectomy was performed. The testis, epididymis and spermatic cord were sent to pathology. Case presentation: On gross examination, a cystic cavity filled with brown fluid content and surrounding brownish parenchyma measuring up to 3.5 cm in diameter was found. Histologic examination showed cystically dilated rete testis lined with cuboidal epithelium and a positive immunohistochemical reaction to cytokeratins. The cystic cavity was microscopically a pseudocyst filled with extravasated erythrocytes and abundant clusters of siderophages. The siderophages extended into the testicular parenchyma, surrounding the seminiferous tubules and spreading out around ducts of the epididymis, which were also cystically dilated with siderophages inside their lumina. Conclusions: On the basis of clinical data, histological and immunohistochemical analysis, a diagnosis of cystic dysplasia of the rete testis was established. According to the literature there is a very well-known association between cystic dysplasia of rete testis and ipsilateral genitourinary anomalies. The patient was referred to the department of radiology, and a multi-slice computed tomography scan revealed ipsilateral renal agenesis, right seminal vesicle cyst reaching up to the iliac arteries and a multi-cystic formation cranial to the prostate.

A 31-year-old man with left-sided testicular pain lasting a couple of months was referred to our urology department due to a suspected testicular tumor. Physical examination showed a hard, thickened, and small left testis on palpation with a diffuse, inhomogeneous ultrasonographic appearance. After a urologic examination, a left-sided inguinal orchiectomy was performed. The testis, epididymis, and spermatic cord were sent to pathology. Gross examination revealed a cystic cavity filled with brown fluid and the surrounding brownish parenchyma measuring up to 3.5 cm in diameter. Histologic examination showed a cystically dilated rete testis lined with cuboidal epithelium and a positive immunohistochemical reaction to cytokeratins. Microscopically, the cystic cavity was a pseudocyst filled with extravasated erythrocytes and abundant clusters of siderophages. The siderophages extended into the testicular parenchyma, surrounding the seminiferous tubules and spreading out around the ducts of the epididymis, which were also cystically dilated with siderophages inside their lumina. On the basis of clinical data, histological, and immunohistochemical analysis, the patient was diagnosed with cystic dysplasia of the rete testis. The literature shows an association between cystic dysplasia of the rete testis and ipsilateral genitourinary anomalies. Therefore, our patient underwent a multi-slice computed tomography scan, which revealed ipsilateral renal agenesis, a right seminal vesicle cyst reaching up to the iliac arteries, and a multicystic formation cranial to the prostate.