Radiation Therapy and Fluorouracil Before Surgery in Treating Patients With Primary or Recurrent Bile Duct Cancer

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy before surgery may shrink the tumor so that it can be removed during surgery. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining radiation therapy with fluorouracil before surgery in treating patients who have primary or recurrent bile duct cancer.