OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the response rate (complete or partial) to rituximab in previously untreated patients with stage III or IV CD20+ B-cell follicular small cleaved cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. II. Determine the response rate (complete or partial) to rituximab in patients with relapsed CD20+ Hodgkin's disease. III. Determine the time to progression and time to chemotherapy in these patients after treatment with rituximab.