Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Randomized groups: Histologically proven previously untreated stage I or II supradiaphragmatic Hodgkin's lymphoma * No prior staging laparotomy * Favorable (closed to accrual as of 4/28/04) or unfavorable (closed to accrual as of 9/2002) prognosis * Nonrandomized group: Histologically proven lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma, nodular subtype (nodular paragranuloma) * Stage I with complete or incomplete resection OR * Stage II PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 15 to 70 Performance status: * WHO 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Not specified Hepatic: * Not specified Renal: * Not specified Cardiovascular: * No severe cardiac disease that would interfere with normal life expectancy or study treatment Pulmonary: * No severe pulmonary disease that would interfere with normal life expectancy or study treatment Other: * No other prior or concurrent malignancy except basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No severe neurologic or metabolic disease that would interfere with normal life expectancy or study treatment * No psychologic, familial, socioeconomic, or geographic circumstances that would preclude proper staging or compliance * HIV negative * Not pregnant * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No prior biologic therapy for this malignancy Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for this malignancy Endocrine therapy * No prior endocrine therapy for this malignancy Radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy for this malignancy Surgery * No prior surgery for this malignancy