Spondylodiscitis are frequent and clinical challenge for practionners. Axial 
calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPDD) is well known for 
cervical spine involvement with the crowned dens syndrome but other 
localisations are probably underdiagnosed in sterile spondylodiscitis. We report 
a case of recurrent sterile spondylodiscitis with epidural abscess related to 
CPDD proved by vertebral percutaneous needle biopsy with rapid favourable course 
under colchicine therapy. Axial CPDD could mimic septic spondylodiscitis with 
epidural abscess on MRI. Sterile spondylodiscitis are probably underdiagnosed 
forms of microcrystalline disease. Investigations of the presence of 
microcrystals should be systematically undertaken with tamponed formalin fixed 
biopsies. If axial CPDD is suspected, colchicine therapy could be a good 
therapeutic test and would avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatment.