Response-Based Therapy Assessed By PET Scan in Treating Patients With Bulky Stage I and Stage II Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

1. Documentation of Disease:

   * Histologically documented Hodgkin lymphoma subclassified according to the WHO modification of the Rye Classification and staged according to the modified Ann Arbor Staging Classification system.

     * Patients must have clinical stage IA, IB, IIA or IIB.
     * Patients with "E" extensions will be eligible if all other criteria have been met.
     * Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma is excluded.
     * Core needle biopsies are acceptable if they contain adequate tissue for primary diagnosis and immunophenotyping. Fine needle aspirates are not acceptable. If multiple specimens are available, please submit the most recent. Failure to submit pathology materials within 60 days of patient registration will be considered a major protocol violation.
   * Patients must have a mediastinal mass \> 0.33 maximum intrathoracic diameter on standing postero-anterior chest x-ray or mass measuring \> 10 cm in its largest diameter.
2. Second Malignancy: No "currently active" second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancers. Patients are not considered to have a "currently active" malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at less than 30% risk of relapse.
3. Prior Therapy - Patients may have had one cycle only of ABVD prior to enrolling on study. No other prior treatment (chemotherapy or radiation therapy) for Hodgkin lymphoma is allowed. If patient has had one cycle of ABVD, in order to be eligible to enroll on CALGB 50801, the patient must have had all of the following tests prior to starting the first cycle of ABVD:

   * LVEF by ECHO or MUGA
   * PFTs (including DLCO/FVC)CT scan (neck\*, chest, abdomen, pelvis)
   * FDG-PET/CT scan
   * Chest X-ray, PA \& Lateral
   * CBC, differential, platelets
   * ESR
   * Serum creatinine
   * Glucose
   * AST
   * Alkaline phosphatase
   * Bilirubin
   * LDH

   Patients with a negative FDG-PET/CT scan do not need to have had a dedicated neck CT scan prior to starting the previous cycle of ABVD.
4. ECOG Performance status 0-2.
5. LVEF and DLCO - LVEF by ECHO or MUGA within institutional normal limits unless thought to be disease related. DLCO ≥ 60% with no symptomatic pulmonary disease unless thought to be disease related.
6. HIV Infection - Patients with known HIV must have a CD4 count \> 350 and be on concurrent antiretrovirals. Patients with a history of intravenous drug abuse or any behavior associated with an increased risk of HIV infection should be tested for exposure to the HIV virus. An HIV test is not required for entry on this protocol, but is required if the patient is perceived to be at risk.
7. Pregnancy Restrictions - Non-pregnant and non-nursing. Due to the teratogenic potential of the agents used in this study, pregnant or nursing women may not be enrolled. Women and men of reproductive potential should agree to use an effective means of birth control.
8. Age Restricitions - Age 18 - 60 years
9. Initial Required Laboratory Data:

   * ANC ≥ 1000/μL
   * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/μL
   * Serum Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL
   * Bilirubin\* ≤ 2 x upper limit of normal
   * AST ≤ 2 x upper limit of normal\* - In the absence of Gilbert's disease