DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of relapsed low or intermediate grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma CD20+ or CD19+ tumor cells Bone marrow involvement less than 20% of intratrabecular space All tumor masses less than 5 cm in each dimension In second or greater remission with either complete remission or minimal disease state OR Failed to achieve remission with primary induction therapy, but can achieve minimal disease with additional chemotherapy or radiotherapy OR Persistent splenomegaly with otherwise minimal disease No active CNS involvement A new classification scheme for adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been adopted by PDQ. The terminology of "indolent" or "aggressive" lymphoma will replace the former terminology of "low", "intermediate", or "high" grade lymphoma. However, this protocol uses the former terminology.