DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease

  • Stage IA* or IIA* disease NOTE: *No bulky disease.
• Newly diagnosed, previously untreated disease
• No B symptoms

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 21 and under

Performance status

• Not specified

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Not specified

Hepatic

• AST or ALT < 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR ≥ 70 mL/min OR

• Creatinine based on age/gender as follows:

  • No greater than 0.4 mg/dL (for patients 1 to 5 months of age)
  • No greater than 0.5 mg/dL (for patients 6 to 11 months of age)
  • No greater than 0.6 mg/dL (for patients 1 year of age)
  • No greater than 0.8 mg/dL (for patients 2 to 5 years of age)
  • No greater than 1.0 mg/dL (for patients 6 to 9 years of age)
  • No greater than 1.2 mg/dL (for patients 10 to 12 years of age)
  • No greater than 1.4 mg/dL (for female patients ≥ 13 years of age)
  • No greater than 1.5 mg/dL (for male patients 13 to 15 years of age)
  • No greater than 1.7 mg/dL (for male patients ≥ 16 years of age)

Cardiovascular

• Ejection fraction ≥ 50% by MUGA OR
• Shortening fraction ≥ 27% by echocardiogram

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing*

  • Patients who are pregnant or nursing who have stage IA disease and underwent confirmed complete resection of a single involved lymph node are eligible for observation only
• Negative pregnancy test *
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception* NOTE: *For patients receiving study chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• More than 30 days since prior systemic corticosteroids

Radiotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent intensity modulated radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified