Chemotherapy Based on Positron Emission Tomography Scan in Treating Patients With Stage I or Stage II Hodgkin Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed\* Hodgkin lymphoma

  * Clinical stage IA, IB, IIA, or IIB disease according to the modified Ann Arbor Staging Classification system
  * Subclassified according to the WHO modification of the Rye Classification
  * "E" extension allowed provided all other criteria have been met NOTE: \*Pathology materials must be submitted within 60 days of study registration. Core-needle biopsies are acceptable provided they contain adequate tissue for primary diagnosis and immunophenotyping. Fine-needle aspirates not allowed. If multiple specimens are available, submit the most recent.
* No nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
* No mediastinal mass \> 0.33 maximum intrathoracic diameter by standing postero-anterior chest x-ray or peripheral or retroperitoneal adenopathy \> 10 cm in its largest diameter
* Measurable disease by physical examination or imaging studies

  * Any tumor mass measurable in two dimensions and \> 1 cm (or 1.5 cm if 0.5 cm slices are used, as in spiral CT scans) allowed
  * Lesions that are considered intrinsically non-measurable include:

    * Bone lesions
    * Leptomeningeal disease
    * Ascites
    * Pleural/pericardial effusion
    * Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
    * Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    * Cystic lesions
    * Lesions that are situated in a previously irradiated area

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Performance status 0-2
* ANC ≥ 1,000/μL
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/μL
* Serum creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL
* Bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL
* AST ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal
* LVEF normal by ECHO or MUGA
* DLCO ≥ 60% with no symptomatic pulmonary disease
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Patients with known HIV allowed provided they have CD4 counts ≥ 350/mcL

  * Patients must not have multi-drug resistant HIV infections (i.e., concurrent AIDS-defining conditions)
  * An HIV test is required for patients with a history of IV drug abuse or any behavior associated with an increased risk of HIVinfection
* No "currently active" second malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancers

  * Patients are not considered to have a "currently active" malignancy provided they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at \< 30% risk of relapse

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma

  * 1 course of ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) allowed and will be considered the first course