OBJECTIVES: I. Modify chemotherapy courses based on initial response to therapy in children with newly diagnosed stage IA/IIA/IIIA1 Hodgkin's disease. II. Examine the activity of variable courses of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, and etoposide (DBVE) followed by low-dose involved-field irradiation in these patients. III. Monitor the safety and feasibility of the response-dependent approach and the morbidity and immediate and long-term toxic effects associated with this regimen. IV. Assess whether limited therapy is adequate for patients with an early response. V. Evaluate whether the addition of dexrazoxane can reduce pulmonary toxicity while not significantly reducing the response rate or event-free survival. VI. Evaluate whether the frequency and magnitude of myocardial injury during therapy, as measured by elevated serum cardiac troponin-T, is reduced by the addition of dexrazoxane.